2025 New Mexico Music Awards Finalists
Please send any corrections or additions to the listing to nmmaentries@gmail.com
Where tie scores exist in preliminary judging, more than five finalist will be listed. In categories with fewer than five entries, there are less than five entries
Finalists are listed as follows unless otherwise indicated:
Artist
Title
Producer(s)
Studio/City
Adult Contemporary/Adult Pop
Ben Lawry
Until Tomorrow
Ben Lawry
Molly Brown Studio
The Baylin Band
Walking Down This Road
Eb Lottimer – AnnaDarrah – David McRae
Third Eye Studios-Tijeras
Ron Crowder
Take You Away
Ron Crowder
InCrowd Studio-Albuquerque
Danyelle Kupferer
Trey’s Song
John Wall
Wall of Sound Studio-Albuquerque
Kristy Hinds
Blind Spot
Kristy Hinds and Mathew Tobias
Empty House Studio-Albuquerque
Ambient
Carrie and Chris Ishee
Becoming
Carrie and Chris Ishee
The Electric Company-Santa Fe
Sheila Eden/Elizabeth Garland
The Path Leads On
Sheila Eden/Elizabeth Garland
Dark Iris Music & Turquoise Thistle Studios-Albuquerque
Jim Oliver
Living in Harmony
Jim Oliver
Oliver Music Studio-Santa Fe
Ron Newman
Crystalline
Ron Newman
Ron Newman Piano-Santa Fe
Edred Breedlove
Stoop or Fly
Edred Breedlove, Jon Gold
Gold Mine audio & mastering-Montezuma
Americana
Dusty Anvil
Barb Wire Heart
Wade Aubuchon; Jamie “Firelily” Sackett; Don Grieser; Billy Sanders; Stan Carlson; Bob Schafer
Grants NMSU Recording Room-Grants
Michael Rudd
Across the Water
Michael Rudd
Frogville Studios-Santa Fe
Levi Dean & the Mesa Rats
Weather and Erode
Sean Lawson and Kenny Riley
Lawson Studios-Albuquerque
Felix Gato Peralta
Evil Güey
Edgar Wonder
Edgar Wonder Studios-Santa Fe
Bone Orchard
Coffin Driver
Daniel Pretends Eagle, Carol Morgan Eagle
Gold Mine Studio Audio & Mastering
Blues
Rudy Boy Experiment
Voodoo Lovin’ Woman
Rudy Boy Jaramillo
Eagle Rock Studios-Albuquerque
Paul Kelly
Devil An Inch
Ronnie Rael, David Cragin
Santa Fe
Turquoise Steel
Boarding School Blues
Turquoise Steel
Rio Grande Studios-Albuquerque
Wayne James Dotson
Only True Love
Nathan Dunton
Kabby Sound Studios-Santa Fe
Richard Cagle & The Voodoo Choir
Rt 66
Richard Cagle
Montrose Studios-Ruidoso
Bluegrass
Foggy Memory Boys
Put It on My Gravestone
Peter Oviatt
Moonflower Sounds-Taos
Mineral Hill
Everything is Beautiful
Mineral Hill and Dave McRae
Third Eye Studio-Tijeras
David Kuncicky
Nancy Rolled into Texas
David Kuncicky
La Barberia Studios-Santa Fe
John Depew
Joyful Sound
Peter Oviatt
Moonflower Sounds-Taos
Old-Time Pharmaceuticals
Sing a Little Too Loud and Long
Patrick DeSimio
Magi Studio-Las Cruces
Children’s
Jordan Wax
Vayse Bern / Polar Bears
Jeremy Barnes
Sonido Del Norte-Santa Fe
C. Daniel Boling
Maya, I Adore You
Jono Manson & Daniel Boling
The Kitchen Sink-Santa Fe
Susie Tallman
Halloween Dance
Greg O’ Connor & Susie Tallman
Mountain Road Recording-Albuquerque
Ayano
Jett Jett Jett
Ayano Nixon
Ayano Songs-Albuquerque
Bette Korber
Cold Toes
Bette Korber
Moonflower Sounds LLC-Taos
Country
Christina Gomez
Gone
Bill Palmer
Torreón Terlingua-Santa Fe
Eryn Bent
Already Gone
Eryn Bent & Andy Primm
Northern New Studios-Santa Fe
Freddy Lawrence
Up in the Hills
Jimmy J. Medina
Recording Center of New Mexico-Albuquerque
Greg Johns and His Semi-Large Band
Lost My Ass Again
John Wall
Wall of Sound-Albuquerque
Ron Whitmore
Santa Ana Wind
Marshall Hunt and Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink-Santa Fe
Rich Rajacich
All That’s Left To Do
Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink-Santa Fe
Electronica
G Precious
So Fierce
Velvet Code
Jimmy J Music-Albuquerque
DKW Project
No Trace
Dare N Wade
Pebble Beach Studios-Albuquerque
9,999
Flambeau Foliage
Kevin Miller
Arroyo Borealis Records-Santa Fe
DKW Project
Perfect Storm
Dare N Wade
Pebble Beach Studios-Albuquerque
VARIANT
NIGHTMARE
Joel Vargas Jr.
J&R Vargas Productions-Los Alamos
Folk
Old-Time Pharmaceuticals
The Sidheóg
Patrick DeSimio
Magi Studio-Las Cruces
Dr. Hall
Lost, Lonely and Blue
Howard Hall
Smoky Mountain Music Creations LLC-Santa Fe
Bette Korber
Hermosa Mariposa
Bette Korber
Moonflower Sound LLC-Taos
C. Daniel Boling
For Better or Worse
Jono Manson & Daniel Boling
The Kitchen Sink-Santa Fe
Paul Kelly
Green, Green Mohawk Valley
Ronnie Rael, David Cragin
Santa Fe Soundworks-Santa Fe
Hip Hop
Alexx Cloud ft Juan Gambino
Cinco
Alexx Cloud
La Colonia Inc-Albuquerque
Darin Wade
DKW Project
No Trace
Pebble Beach Studios-Albuquerque
Molly Glasgow ft Luck-EE
Easy Way
Luck-ee
Home Studio-Santa Fe
O.G. Willikers
CHARGE
Zach Maloof
RaRa Room Recordings-Santa Fe
Indie Rock
Clap the Houses Dark
Over the Transom
Gregory Glazner, Jon Trujillo
Frogville Studios-Santa Fe
Drastic Andrew
Road
Mathiew McClinton
Frogville Studios-Santa Fe
Riley Ross Walker
Lather, Rinse, Repeat
John Wall
Wall of Sound-Albuquerque
NEPTHISIS
Breakthrough
Christopher Neal, Sheila Eden
Dark Iris Music-Albuquerque
Secret Eagles
Sexy Lightning
Matthew Tobias and Michael Moxey
Empty House Studio-Albuquerque
Jazz
Dimian DiSanti
Flora Del Valle
Dimian DiSanti and Sid Fendley
Mountain Road Recording-Albuquerque
Stefan
Nashville Swing
Stefan Schyga
Innovative Strings-Silver City
Ray Anthony
MR LUCKY
Ray Montoya
High Fidelity Mastering-Albuquerque
Alex Murzyn and Quintessential
That’s What You Get!
Lyra Barron
Paradiso-Santa Fe
Terry Burns
Secret Weather
Terry Burns
SongSpeak Studio-Rio Rancho
Aarin Richard
New Beginnings
Aarin Richard
Studio Chupadero-Santa Fe
Latin
Pat Reyes
El Poema
Roger Baker
Downstairs Studio-Albuquerque
Felix Gato Peralta & Lara Manzanares
Vale más tarde que nunca
Edgar Wonder
Monsoon Music House-Tijeras
Stefan
Tesuque
Stefan Schyga
Innovative Strings-Silver City
Chacho Soul
Estoy Bien
Chacho Soul
Frogville Studios & Kabby Sound-Santa Fe
Ruben Soberanes
Yo En Ti
Cali Shaw Soberanes
Olive Tree Studios-Albuquerque
Metal
Angelo Unale
All That Remains
Dave Heidt
Route 66 Music-Bernalillo
Ben Lawry
Until Tomorrow
Ben Lawry
Molly Brown Studio-Albuquerque
Son of Ra
Back to Creation
Chris Riggins
Massacre Studios-Santa Fe
Danny Winters
Falling Leaves
Danny Winters
Danny’s Guitar Studio-Albuquerque
Alter Apex
My Own Design (Featuring Sheila Eden of Nepthesis)
Ken Hendricks, Eric Garay, Ken Weinman, Dexter Gonzalez
Home Studio-Albuquerque
Modern Rock
Wayne James Dotson
Oh Lord Can You Help Me Please
Nathan Dunton
Kabby Sound Studios-Santa Fe
Seekalae’ (Rick Rael & Bobby Murray)
Voices
Ken Riley
Rio Grande Studios-Albuquerque
Ron Crowder
Take You Away
Ron Crowder
InCrowd Studio-Albuquerque
JaceFace
Down In Flames
JaceFace
Red Scorpion Records-Albuquerque
Paisty Jenny
Jesus and Guns
Kenny Campos
Cranked Up Records-Carlsbad
Native American
Ishi
Red Like Blood
David Cragin
Santa Fe Soundworks-Santa Fe
Turquoise Steel
Boarding School Blues
Turquoise Steel
Rio Grande Studios-Albuquerque
Novelty
Charles Murray
Look No Further Than Elon Musk
Charles Murray
Most Records-Santa Fe
Paul Kelly
Bus Driver’s Song (Carrying the Most Precious Cargo)
Ronnie Rael, David Cragin
Santa Fe Soundworks-Santa Fe
Gary Costley
Cookin’ With Jesse & Walt
John Wall
Wall of Sound-Albuquerque
Dr. Hall
Island Time
Howard Hall
Smoky Mountain Music Creations LLC-Santa Fe
Ron Whitmore
Uck It
George Mahn III
Gentry Avenue Productions-Santa Fe
Pop
Leiahdorus
Hey, I Miss You
Darla Van Winkle and Jason D. Smith
The Nostalgia Room-Albuquerque
Ron Crowder
Young Again
Ron Crowder
InCrowd Studio-Albuquerque
Rebekkah Dreskin, Ft. Nick FuriouStylz
Albuquerque Infamous
Rebekkah Dreskin-Evans
Home Studio-Albuquerque
LoPhat
We Came Here to Party
Stephen Dewave Peace & Loren Lujan
Recording Center of New Mexico-Albuquerque
DKW Project
Perfect Storm
Dare N Wade
Pebble Beach Studios-Albuquerque
Rap
DKW Project
No Trace
Dare N Wade
Pebble Beach Studios-Albuquerque
Juan Gambino
Summertime Party
Juan Gambino
La Colonia Inc-Albuquerque
Victoria Rogers
“No Time”
Victoria Rogers
SongSpeak Studio-Rio Rancho
Rhythm & Blues
LoPhat
Goodbye
Stephen DeWave Peace & Loren Lujan
Recording Center of New Mexico-Albuquerque
Isaac Aragon
Love Bless America
Artha Meadors, Isaac Aragon
Empty House Studios-Albuquerque
Marco Chólo
Say You Will
The Arkiteks
The Cave-Albuquerque
64LoveMachine
Mission Control
Jimmy J. Medina
Recording Center of New Mexico-Albuquerque
Paul Kelly
She Really Loves Me
Ronnie Rael, David Cragin
Santa Fe Soundworks-Santa Fe
Reggae
Joseph General and High Vibration
Care Free
Joseph General and High Vibration
Recording Center of New Mexico-Albuquerque
Glenn Damian
Seize The Day
Glenn Damian & Jon Gold
Gold Mine Audio & Mastering-Montezuma
Lumpy
Stickler
Bryan Highhill
Home Studio-Albuquerque
Mister Kali, Bobby Hustle & Dre Z Melodi
High Grade
Bob Witsenhausen
Ceremony Studios-Santa Fe
The Gravitators
Spontaneity
Jack Bates a.k.a. bojo’d’ojob
bojo’d’ojob-Placitas
Religious/Gospel
Charlotte Rose Marie
Too Late
Ben Lawry
Molly Brown Records-Albuquerque
CHURCH
I Belong to You
Ben Lawry
Molly Brown Records-Albuquerque
Wayne James Dotson
Better Think Twice
Nathan Dunton
Kabby Sound Studios-Santa Fe
Angelo Unale
Sing To the Lord
Dave Heidt
Route 66 Music-Bernalillo
Paul Kelly
Mavis Staples Made me Cry
Ronnie Rael, David Cragin
Santa Fe Soundworks-Santa Fe
Seasonal
David McCright
The Christmas Card
David McCright
Home Studio-Albuquerque
Christina Gomez and Felix Peralta
Tequila Kisses
Bill Palmer and Christina Gomez
Torreon Terlingua Studio-Santa Fe
Glenn H Damian
Farolitos de Color
Glenn Damian & Jon Gold
Gold Mine Audio & Mastering
Dr. Hall
Christmas Song
Howard Hall
Smoky Mountain Music Creations LLC-Santa Fe
Singer/Songwriter
Roger Jameson and the Jaded Heart Band
Runaway Horses
John Wall and Roger Jameson
Wall of Sound-Albuquerque
John Douglas Cox
We Were Meant To Be
John Douglas Cox
Bear Trax Studio-Roswell
Lara Manzanares
On Trees
Jono Manson & Lara Manzanares
The Kitchen Sink-Santa Fe
Glenn Damian
Paradise Hill
Glenn Damian & Jon Gold
Gold Mine Audio & Mastering-Montezuma
Kito Peters
Drum
Kito Peters
Frogville Studio-Santa Fe
Western
Felix Gato Peralta & Kristina Jacobsen
Bronco Sue
Felix Gato Peralta
Torreón Studios-Torreón
Lara Manzanares
Tall Woman
Jono Manson & Lara Manzanares
The Kitchen Sink-Santa Fe
Rich Rajacich
When This Journey Ends
Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink Studio-Santa Fe
Syd Masters
As I Lay Dreaming
Syd Masters
Deer Pine Studio-Edgewood
Foggy Memory Boys
Hard Road
Peter Oviatt
Moonflower Sounds-Taos
World
Woven Talon
Niva
Andrew Tumason
Ebony Shore Studios-Santa Fe
Carrie and Chris Ishee
Becoming
Carrie and Chris Ishee
The Electric Co.-Santa Fe
Chris Riggins
Cascades
Chris Riggins
The Kitchen Sink-Santa Fe
Jordan Wax
Makht / Power
Jeremy Barnes
Sonido Del Norte-Santa Fe
Muna Clay
Tudo Sorri
Andrew Tumason
Ebony Shore Studios-Santa Fe
Stefan
Mis Viajes
Stefan Schyga
Innovative Strings-Silver City
Best Arrangement of an Original Recording
(Artist and title.)
9,999 (Nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine)
for
Flambeau Flowage
John David Peters
for
Do You Still Think of Me
VARIANT
for
NIGHTMARE
Zaphica
for
Great Apostasy
Edred Breedlove
for
Dance the night
Bone Orchard
for
Coffin Driver
Best Cover Song
Baba Cool
Fibre de Verre
Catherine Fridey
Third Eye Studios-Tijeras
Free Range Buddhas
Into The Mystic
Free Range Buddhas
Frogville Studios-Santa Fe
Buck Vuksich
Footprints in the Snow
John Wall
Wall of Sound-Albuquerque
Saya Sommers
Almost Like Being in Love
Alex Murzyn, Saya Sommers, Mark Sommers
ABQPost-Albuquerque
David Kuncicky
Most Likely You Go Your Way and I’ll Go Mine
David Kuncicky
La Barberia Studio-Santa Fe
Best New Mexico Song
Andy Skotting-Segal
The Red Dye of Chile
Andy Skotting-Segal, Jon Gagan and Hari Rai Khalsa
Jon Gagan Studio-Santa Fe
GT Springer
Embudo River
Michael MacDonald
AlgoRhythms Mastering-Santa Fe
Kevin Flynn
Zozobra Blues
Kevin Miller
Arroyo Borealis Records-Santa Fe
Syd Masters
I Call Albuquerque Home
Syd Masters
Third Eye Studio-Tijeras
Mineral Hill
Algodones
Mineral Hill and Dave McRae
Third Eye Studio-Tijeras
Best Route 66 Cover Song
Entourage Jazz
(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
Emerson Corley & Roger Baker
Downstairs Studio-Albuquerque
Third Eye Studio-Tijeras
Angelo Unale
Get Your Kicks on Route 66
Dave Heidt
Route 66 Music-Bernalillo
David Kuncicky
Theme from Route 66
David Kuncicky
La Barberia Studios-Santa Fe
Best Instrumental Performance
(Artist and title.)
Alex Murzyn and Quintessential
for
Why Wait
Zaphica
for
Saraswati
Love Unfold the Sun
for
Steppe Up
Stefan
for
Tesuque
Terry Burns
for
Unruly Passenger
Glenn Damian
for
Samba Alegre
Best Mastering Engineer
(Engineer, facility, artist and title.)
Andy Rogulich – High Fidelity Mastering
for
Adriana Vigil
Always Be Yours
Andy Primm-Norther New Studios
for
Eryn Bent
Strong Woman
Jimmy J. Medina-Recording Center of New Mexico
for
Freddy Lawrence
Up in the Hills
Andy Rogulich – High Fidelity Mastering
for
The Baylin Band
Walking Down This Road
Jono Manson-The Kitchen Sink
for
John Popper and Jono Manson
Untrouble Your Mind
Best Recording Engineer
(Engineer, facility, artist and title.)
Tyler Murzyn-Paradiso Santa Fe
for
Alex Murzyn and Quintessential
Know Peace
George Mahn III-Gentry Avenue Productions
for
Marc and Paula’s Roadside Distraction
After The Tears Run Dry
Peter Oviatt-Moonflower Sounds
for
John Depew
Neon Hawk
Jono Manson-The Kitchen Sink
for
KT Tunstall
Clueless
Tim Schmoyer-Engine 70 Studios
for
Free Range Buddhas
Wild Woman
Best Original Song
(Writers and title.)
Kito Peters
for
Drum
Isaac Aragon
for
Love Bless America
Nathan Dunton
for
Long Goodbye
Marshall E Hunt and Ronald T Whitmore
for
Santa Ana Wind
Linda Castaneda
for
Poison
Best Vocal Performance
(Artists and performance.)
Jono Manson and James Raymond (featuring KT Tunstall)
for
Make No Bone About It
LoPhat
for
Goodbye
Bone Orchard
for
The Hangman’s Daughter
The Baylin Band
for
Waiting For You
Saya Sommers
for
Good Morning Heartache
Best Video
(Video production, artist, title and studio.)
Illumina A.D.
“Aperio”
Video: Alexander Bane, Armando Prieto
Song Recording and Mix: Michael Beck
Song Master: Tony Lindgren
Creative Lab ABQ, Albuquerque
Paisty Jenny
Jesus and Guns
Adam Garcia (Video) Curtis McKinney (Video) Kenny Campos (Song Mix and Master)
Cranked Up Records-Carlsbad
Juan Gambino
Summertime Party
Juan Gambino
La Colonia Inc-Albuquerque
MusicHouse Mal
Everybody Knows
Malvina Canon/ Dave Garner
MusicHouse Mal-Rowe
Robert Marcum
Troubled Hands
Andrew Primm-Videographer
Nathan Dunton
Kabby Sound Studios-Santa Fe
Randy Lynch
Haunted
Dallas David Ochoa
DDO Studios-Las Cruces
Best Album Design
(Art design, artist and title.)
Carrie and Chris Ishee
for
Carrie and Chris Ishee
Mining Inner Wisdom
Victoria Rogers
for
Victoria Rogers
Body Be Moon
Art Design by Victoria Rogers
Saya Sommers
for
Saya Sommers
Unfettered
Photography-Saya Sommers
Album Cover Design-Tessi Abe Studio WUU
John David Peters
for
John David Peters
In The Lasting
Gabe Austin
for
gesamtausGABE
Album and artwork by Gabe Austin
Photography by Alanna Austin
Gabe Austin, Alanna Austin
Darla Van Winkle
For
Leiahdorus
The Lost Tapes
Album Artwork-Darla Van Winkle
Best Blues Album
Dr. Hall
Modern Love
Howard Hall
Smoky Mountain Music Creations LLC-Santa Fe
Richard Cagle & The Voodoo Choir
Zia Blues
Richard Cagle
Montrose Recording Studio-Ruidoso
Best Country Album
Eryn Bent
Blush
Eryn Bent and Andy Primm
Northern New Studios-Santa Fe
Rich Rajacich
Now That You’re Gone
Jono Manson
The Kitchen Sink-Santa Fe
John Depew
Bell of Hope
Peter Oviatt
Moonflower Sounds-Taos
LUCKY MAYS
RIDING ON SUNBEAMS
LUCKY MAYS
UNFURNISHED STUDIOS-Albuquerque
Louis Sheridan
Cowboys Need Lovin’ Too
David McCrae
Third Eye Studio-Tijeras
Best Jazz Album
Dimian DiSanti
Our Big Backyard
Dimian DiSanti and Sid Fendley
Mountain Road Recording-Albuquerque
Zaphica
Zaphica
Jon Trujillo & Reid Meuth
Frogville Studios-Santa Fe
Terry Burns
Wingwalker
Terry Burns
SongSpeak Studio-Rio Rancho
Love Unfold the Sun
Explode Yourself
Mustafa Stefan Dill
Frogville Studios-Santa Fe
Saya Sommers
Unfettered
Alex Murzyn, Saya Sommers, Mark Sommers
ABQPost-Albuquerque
Best Pop Album
Nathan Dunton
Running Lights
Nathan Dunton
Goatfish Production Co.-Santa Fe
Leiahdorus
The Lost Tapes
Darla Van Winkle and Jason D. Smith
The Nostalgia Room-Albuquerque
Linda Myers
Butterfly Effect
Linda Myers, Producer; Ron Crowder Co-Producer
InCrowd Productions-Albuquerque
Nikolas P
So Far
Nicholas Perea
Moonlyte Records-Albuquerque
Kito Peters
Gold Safari
Kito Peters and Simon Snaize
Home Studio-Santa Fe
Best Rock Album
EEP
You Don’t Have To Be Prepared
Ross Ingram, Rosie Varela
Brainville-Sunland Park
Lumpy
Lumpy
Bryan Highhill
Home Studio-Albuquerque
Carlos Steele
When I’m Enough
Dylan Anderson
Sandia Studios LLC-Albuquerque
Desert Mind
Under a Puzzled Sun
Antonio Dixon
The Kitchen Sink-Santa Fe
Roger Jameson & the Jaded Heart Band
Sparrow
John Wall & Roger Jameson
Wall of Sound Studio-Albuquerque
Norman Petty Producer’s Award
(Producers, artist, title and studio.)
Dimian DiSanti and Sid Fendley
for
Dimian DiSanti
Our Big Backyard
Mountain Road Recording-Albuquerque
Jono Manson & Lara Manzanares
for
Lara Manzanares
Yo Soy de Ti
The Kitchen sink-Santa Fe
Nathan Dunton
for
Nathan Dunton
Running Lights
Goatfish Production Co.-Santa Fe
Linda Myers and Ron Crowder
for
Linda Myers
Butterfly Effect
InCrowd Productions-Albuquerque
Alex Murzyn, Saya Sommers, Mark Sommers
for
Saya Sommers
Unfettered
ABQPost-Albuquerque
Best of the Year
Audra Rodgers & The Sweethearts
Between You & I
Audra Rodgers & Greg Thum
Greg Thum Studio-El Prado
C. Daniel Boling
Love, Dan
Jono Manson & Daniel Boling
The Kitchen Sink-Santa Fe
Levi Dean & the Mesa Rats
Weather and Erode
Sean Lawson and Kenny Riley
Lawson Studios-Albuquerque
Mineral Hill
The Sun Comes Around
Mineral Hill and Dave McRae
Third Eye Studios-Tijeras
Nathan Dunton
Running Lights
Nathan Dunton
Goatfish Production Co.-Santa Fe